Patent EA-003591-B1 (EA)
Title: Intraocular lens implanter
Inventor: HJERTMAN BIRGER
IPC: A61F9/007
Filed: 2000-11-29
Abstract: 1. A device for deforming and ejecting a deformable intraocular lens for insertion into a small incision in an eye, the device comprising a) a housing, b) a lens transporting duct in a front part of the housing defining a duct axis, the duct having a front end with a cross-section adapted to the lens in deformed state with small maximum dimensions transversal to the duct axis, a rear lens-receiving end with a cross-section adapted for the lens in un-deformed state, or less deformed state, than at the front end, with larger maximum dimensions lateral to the duct axis than at the front end and an intermediate convergent duct part between the front and rear ends with a varying cross-section shape, having decreasing maximum dimensions lateral to the duct axis when moving from rear to front in the duct and c) a plunger operative to displace the lens in the duct at least in the forward direction, characterized in the improvement comprising, that over at least a part of the duct axial length the duct cross-section has the overall shape of a crescent. 2. The device of claim 1, characterized in that the crescent has a convex roof line of substantially continuous curvature. 3. The device of claim 1, characterized in that the crescent has a concave floor line of substantially continuous curvature. 4. The device of claim 1, characterized in that the crescent has a concave floor line of substantially continuous curvature except for a guiding groove. 5. The device of claim 4, characterized in that the guiding groove has a lateral extension less than 1.5 mm, preferably less than 1 mm. 6. The device of claim 4, characterized in that the guiding groove terminates to the rear of the front end of the duct. 7. The device of claim 6, characterized in that the guiding groove terminates to the rear of a duct tip part dimensioned for insertion into the incision. 8. The device of claim 1, characterized in that the crescent is substantially mirror symmetrical around a height line centered through the duct axis. 9. The device of claim 8, characterized in that the symmetrical crescent is roughly "C" -shaped or a mirror image thereof. 10. The device of claim 1, characterized in that the crescent is substantially mirror asymmetrical around a height line centered through the duct axis. 11. The device of claim 10, characterized in that the asymmetrical crescent is roughly "6"-shaped or a mirror image thereof. 12. The device of claim 1, characterized in that the crescent has diminishing height between floor and roof when moving from duct axis and laterally outwards. 13. The device of claim 1, characterized in that the crescent edges at the lateral extremes from the duct axis are sharp, polygonal or preferably rounded. 14. The device of claim 1, characterized in that the duct is formed in at least two pieces of material joined along surfaces terminating along joining lines in the duct, the joining lines being located at the crescent edges at the lateral extremes from the duct axis. 15. The device of claim 14, characterized in that the joining lines converge in the front direction. 16. The device of claim 15, characterized in that the joining lines meet about where the crescent form terminates. 17. The device of claim 1, characterized in that the crescent circumference forms a closed line. 18. The device of claim 1, characterized in that the total cross-section area of the crescent shrinks when moving forwards in the duct over said at least part of the duct axial length. 19. The device of claim 1, characterized in that the total cross-section area of the crescent is substantially constant when moving forwards in the duct over said at least part of the duct axial length. 20. The device of claim 19, characterized in that the total cross-section area is substantially constant when continuing moving in the duct up to a lens ejecting end of the duct, adapted for insertion through the incision. 21. The device of claim 17 to 20, characterized in that the total cross-section area of the duct substantially corresponds to the maximum cross-section area of the lens under deformation. 22. The device of claim 21, characterized in that the duct cross-section area and shape substantially corresponds to the cross-section area and shape of the lens under deformation. 23. The device of claim 1, characterized in that the plunger has a front part with an area larger than the largest circular shape that can be accommodated in the crescent by being laterally enlarged with respect to such a circular shape. 24. The device of claim 1, characterized in that the plunger is a re-shapeable between a first form with high lateral to height extension ratio and a second form with less such ratio. 25. A device for deforming and ejecting a deformable intraocular lens for insertion into a small incision in an eye, the device comprising a) a housing, b) a lens transporting duct in a front part of the housing defining a duct axis, the duct having a front end with a cross-section adapted to the lens in deformed state with small maximum dimensions transversal to the duct axis, a rear lens-receiving end with a cross-section adapted for the lens in un-deformed state, or less deformed state, than at the front end, with larger maximum dimensions lateral to the duct axis than at the front end and an intermediate convergent duct part between the front and rear ends with a varying cross-section shape, having decreasing maximum dimensions lateral to the duct axis when moving from rear to front in the duct and c) a plunger operative to displace the lens in the duct at least in the forward direction, characterized in the improvement comprising, that over at least a part of the duct axial length the duct cross-section area is substantially constant when moving forwards in the duct over said at least part of the duct axial length. 26. The device of claim 25, characterized in that the total cross-section area is substantially constant when continuing moving in the duct up to a lens ejecting end of the duct, adapted for insertion through the incision. 27. The device of claim 25 to 26, characterized in that the total cross-section area of the duct substantially corresponds to the maximum cross-section area of the lens under deformation. 28. The device of claim 27, characterized in that the duct cross-section area and shape substantially corresponds to the cross-section area and shape of the lens under deformation. 29. A device for deforming and ejecting a deformable intraocular lens for insertion into a small incision in an eye, the device comprising a) a housing, b) a lens transporting duct in a front part of the housing defining a duct axis, the duct having a front end with a cross-section adapted to the lens in deformed state with small maximum dimensions transversal to the duct axis, a rear lens-receiving end with a cross-section adapted for the lens in un-deformed state, or less deformed state, than at the front end, with larger maximum dimensions lateral to the duct axis than at the front end and an intermediate convergent duct part between the front and rear ends with a varying cross-section shape, having decreasing maximum dimensions lateral to the duct axis when moving from rear to front in the duct and c) a pushing plunger operative to push the lens in the duct at least in the forward direction, characterized in the improvement comprising, that the plunger is re-shapeable at least in its front between a first form with an elongation degree larger than 1 and a second form with an elongation degree less than in the first form, the elongation degree being the lateral to height extension ratio. 30. The device of claim 29, characterized in that the elongation degree in the first form is at least 1.5. 31. The device of claim 30, characterized in that the elongation degree in the first form is at lest 2 and preferably at least 2.5. 32. The device of claim 29, characterized in that the elongation degree in the second form is less than 2, preferably less than 1.5 or about 1. 33. The device of claim 29, characterized in that the change in elongation degree between the first form and the second form, expressed as the quotient between the two elongation degrees, is at least 1.5, preferably at least 2 and most preferably at least 2.5. 34. The device of claim 29, characterized in that the plunger comprises two or more individual parts arranged to provide a change in elongation degree by mutual rearrangement between the individual parts. 35. The device of claim 34, characterized in that in that the plunger comprises sections joined along axially extending fold lines in a bellows like manner. 36. The device of claim 34, characterized in that the individual parts are elongated finger structures extending substantially in the axial direction. 37. The device of claim 29, characterized in that the plunger comprises a multitude of fingers forming a brush type of plunger. 38. The device of claim 37, characterized in that the fingers are joined at a point to the rear of the plunger front to allow rearrangement in front of the joint. 39. The device of claim 36, characterized in that the number of fingers are at most ten, preferably at most six and most preferably at most four. 40. The device of claim 39, characterized in that the fingers are joined with hinges having a hinge axis essentially in the axial direction, guiding the fingers into a folding rearrangement pattern. 41. The device of claim 40, characterized in that the hinges are living hinges in a thin material. 42. The device of claim 40, characterized in that the hinges are arranged close to the front of the fingers. 43. The device of claim 40, characterized in that hinges are present to the rear of the plunger front. 44. The device of claim 40, characterized in that the hinges connects the fingers into a single layer. 45. The device of claim 44, characterized in that the finger fronts are of different shapes or size. 46. The device of claim 45, charac